docs/guides/cli/service.test.md
---
outline: deep
---
# Service tests
The `<service>.test` file contains tests for a specific service. By default it just checks if the service has been registered.
## Testing the service
Services can be tested by using the [application](./app.md) object through Feathers standard APIs:
```ts
// For more information about this file see https://dove.feathersjs.com/guides/cli/service.test.html
import assert from 'assert'
import { app } from '../../../src/app'
describe('users service', () => {
it('registered the service', () => {
const service = app.service('users')
assert.ok(service, 'Registered the service')
})
it('finds all users', async () => {
const users = await app.service('users').find({
paginate: false
})
assert.ok(Array.isArray(users))
})
})
```
## Authenticated tests
To test service internals that require a logged in user, it is not necessary to go through the full authentication flow. Instead a test user can be created and then passed as `params.user` just like it would when authenticated:
```ts
// For more information about this file see https://dove.feathersjs.com/guides/cli/service.test.html
import assert from 'assert'
import { app } from '../../../src/app'
describe('messages service', () => {
it('registered the service', () => {
const service = app.service('messages')
assert.ok(service, 'Registered the service')
})
it('can create a new message for a user', async () => {
const user = await app.service('users').create({
email: 'test@feathersjs.com',
password: 'supersecret'
})
const message = await app.service('messages').create(
{
text: 'Hello world'
},
{ user }
)
assert.strictEqual(message.userId, user.id)
await app.service('messages').remove(message.id)
await app.service('users').remove(user.id)
})
})
```
<BlockQuote label="tip">
If you want to test the full authentication and external access flow the [client.test](./client.test.md) can be used.
</BlockQuote>